New Hamilton coach had hazing scandal on his last team

CHANDLER, Ariz. - The new coach of Hamilton High School's football team is coming from a team with a hazing scndal in its past.

Mike Zdebski is coming to Hamilton from Walled Lake Western High School near Detroit.

In 2001, a player on Zdebski's team was reportedly tied to a pole, duct taped and beaten with sticks and pillows. The player's mother filed a police report, but charges were never pursued.

Two assistant coaches were fired from the team and five players suspended. Zdebski was not found responsible or at fault.

"At no time was I ever present for any of it," Zdebski said from Michigan on Tuesday. "The chief of police classified it as horseplay."

Former Hamilton head coach Steve Belles was removed from his job after six players were arrested as part of what police called a hazing "ritual" in the locker room. The players were accused of holding down other players and sexually assaulting them, according to police records.